Check it out

A series of 10 workshops for caregivers of demential patients will be offered Wednesdays, 4 to 6 p.m., April 24 through June 26 in Northampton.

The free workshops aim to improve quality of life for both caregivers and their care recipients.

Organized by The he Dementia Initiative at Highland Valley Elder Services, the series features experts who teach skills such as creating opportunities for pleasure, play, stimulation and satisfaction; lessening caregiver stress; relating well to family members; preparing legal documents; preventing falls; creating advance medical directives; hiring and supervising help at home; using adult day health programs; choosing and using long-term skilled nursing care facilities; adding hospice services and managing loss and grief.

Each presentation includes group discussion.

Participants may attend one or all sessions. For more information and to register, contact Eleanor Wakin, director, at dementia-initiative@comcast.net.

COLON CANCER PROGRAM

The Holyoke Medical Center presents a lecture Thursday on colon cancer and the importance of screening, featuring Dr. Francis Martinez.

The talk will be held at 6 p.m. in the medical center’s Auxiliary Conference Center.

As the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in both men and women, colon cancer screening is critically important and early detection is key to diagnosis and treatment. Martinez will provide an update on colon cancer, risk factors and screening. Pre-registration is suggested but not necessary. For further information, call the medical center’s Health Promotion Line at 534-2789.

SUICIDE GRIEF SUPPORT

Samaritans, Inc., is launching an Amherst branch of its SafePlace support group. The first meeting will be held April 2. Samaritans, a suicide prevention organization, offers support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

SafePlace will meet the first Tuesday of each month at Jones Library, located at 43 Amity St. from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Meetings will begin at 6:30 during the summer.

Meetings are free, confidential, ongoing and open to anyone in the Amherst and surrounding areas who has experienced suicide loss. There is no registration necessary. For more information, contact Debbie DiMasi, director of Grief Support Services at ddimasi@samaritanshope.org or by calling (617) 536-2460.

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

The Easthampton Council on Aging Enrichment Center holds a seminar April 10 titled The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, a discussion of potential health benefits of coffee and chocolate — with free samples of both.

This presentation is open to the public. Call the Enrichment Center by at 527-6151 by April 8 to pre-register.